How to Guide: Studded Converse Chuck Taylor Sneakers

we made earlier this year! We've just finished our second pair, this time in off-white (no it wasn't any easier on our hands the second time) and we're excited to share them with you. Along with the post, we've also created a quick 'how to guide' so you can do them for yourselves.

This pair of cream colored Chuck Taylor high tops with spikes are perfect for summer, and we've added just a touch of flare by incorporating gunmetal colored spikes in addition to the standard silver color. We hope you're inspired! Keep reading for more pics of the newest pair and the how-to details so you can get started.

STEP ONE

: Prepare your supplies, here's what you'll need-

1.

Sneakers

- they don't need to be Converse, but studded Converse look great and they have a lot of rock and roll history behind them so spikes are natural for them. I'm not sure that Nike running shoes covered in spikes will have the same effect.

2.

Spikes

or

studs

- pick your size and color, there are plenty. A big decision you'll need to make is whether to pick ones that have screws in the back or use bendable points to stay in place. We recommend screws because they'll be more comfortable to wear and they're a little easier to install.

3.

Chalk

- you'll use this to mark your sneakers for studding. We think spikes look the best in neat rows because it looks more professional and less DIY. Chalk allows you to decide where you're going to put the spikes in before you actually do it, and chalk wipes off easily when you're done.

4.

Awl

- an awl is a pointy metal tool that will allow you to make the holes that the spikes will go through. Having one that is the right size is very important, if the awl is too big, the spikes will not stay securely in the sneaker, if it is too small it will be nearly impossible to put the studs in the shoe.

5.

Screwdriver

- if you opted for screw back spikes you'll use this to screw your studs in to secure them to the shoe.

STEP TWO

: Mark the sneaker with your chalk.

Decide what pattern or design you want the spikes to follow on your sneaker and mark it off with chalk. This preparation might seem tedious but it's really important because fixing a chalk mistake is much easier than trying to work with an unnecessary hole in your sneaker later on. We've also found that for most of the smaller sized spikes, the round base that will rest on your shoe is pretty darn close to the exact circumference of a standard non-sidewalk piece of chalk. Simply place the chalk flat against the sidewall of the sneaker and twist it in a circle.

STEP THREE

: Make the hole.

This step is pretty straight forward, at the very center of your chalk mark, stab the awl through the sneaker. Make sure you put the awl all the way through to the end because awls are widest towards the handle. This will make it easier to put the stud in.

STEP FOUR

: Insert the stud and screw it down.

Put the screw end of the spike through the hole you just made and tighten it down. Tightening the screw of the stud as much as possible is important- you don't want your hard work to go to waste and have the stud fall off after you start to walk around.

STEP FIVE

: Repeat.

You've just done your first spike! Congrats! Now there's just a few hundred more to go... don't get discouraged, it's worth it in the end. It's also not necessary to be completely perfect, once all the studs are in the shoe, it's barely noticeable if one or two are slightly out of place also, people seeing them on your feet won't be looking at them up close, they'll just be staring at your amazing kicks from afar!

seeing studs or spikes in person can give you a better idea of how your studded sneakers will look. Also punk stores and some vintage clothing shops sell spikes. For those not in NYC you can buy online from stores like

. Since you're buying directly from the manufacturer in China they're much cheaper than other places.

Q:

Do you sell studded Converse?

A:

No, we'd love to produce these to sell, but we don't have the time or the patience to make them regularly, if we did, we'd need to charge so much money, that you'd run and make your own anyway!

Q:

How much time does it take to make a pair?

A:

Expect to spend about 5-7 hours making a pair of high tops depending on how fast or slow you go. Most of the time will be spent working on getting the spikes through the reinforced heeled portion of the shoe. Low tops will take significantly less time because there is less area to put spikes in.